The Embassy of Israel and Sana Kisan Bikas Bank Ltd have jointly launched the Small Farmer Agricultural Trainee Program, with the objective to provide basic knowledge of advanced agricultural technology to the youth of Nepal for sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship, since last year.

A group of students from Small Farmers Families returned to Nepal after completion of Advanced Agricultural Training in Israe.

Addressing a press meet, ambassador of Israel to Nepal Yaron Mayer urged Nepalese youth to use their knowledge and skill learn in Israel to transform Nepal’s agriculture.

“Government of Israel will continue to provide this kinds of program t enhance the quality of Nepal’s young population,” sad ambassador Yaron Mayer.

The program is run with the consent from Government of Nepal-Ministry of Finance. Under this program, 205 youths of Small Farmer Families from eight districts of Nepal had participated in different colleges and agriculture training centers in Israel.

“Sana Kisan Bikas Bank is proud to be a partner of this program. All the youth sent under this program returned to Nepal and those who returned in the country are working in the villages,” said Jalan Kumar Sharma, chief executive officer of Sana Kisan Bikas Bank.  

The tenure of the program ranges from 10 to 11 months. As per the requirement of mandatorily return back to home country after the completion of the training program, all of the 205 participants of first phase of training have returned to Nepal. Out of participants of last year, five students from Kinneret Colleges will be retained in Israel itself as team leaders. Another three students from other colleges have been retained as team leader for this year’s program too.

Trainees get one day theoretical knowledge at college and five days practical field knowledge per week during the training period. They receives stipend for the work they perform during the practical field study as per the rules of Israel.

Trainees of this program were selected from amongst the candidates who were recommended by the Small Farmer Agriculture Cooperatives of the VDCs from the selected districts. In presence of representatives of Embassy of Israel in Nepal, lottery of the recommended candidates was carried out for selection of the candidates for interview by the respective college representatives. Final selection was carried out based on the interview by the college representatives.

515 trainees from Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Udaypur, Saptari, Sirah, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Dang, Banke, and Bardiya districts are selected for this year to attend this training program.

According to a press release, till date total of 314 students have reached to different colleges and training centers of Israel and the remaining will also leave Nepal within October 2014. Among the trainees selected for this year 150, 100, 50,165 and 50 trainees will get training at Kinneret College, Ashkelon College, Ramagtnegiv Desert Research Centre, Arava International Center for Agricultural Training Stations respectively.

“It is believed that the demonstration effects of the trainees in the community will attract the youth's thereby bringing positive changes in the  financial and social lives of marginalized and excluded small farmers of the selected districts. As the future of nation rest on youths, hence their involvement in agriculture is very crucial for country like Nepal,” said press release.  

There is immense potential for modern agriculture provided there is a blend of capital, skills, enthuse, and technology amongst the youths. Financial, technical and other needed support from Sana Kisan Bikas Bank Ltd, Small Farmer Cooperatives, Ministries and Agencies of Nepal will be provided to the extent of availability of funds to these youths.

Encouragement from various Ministries and Departments of Government of Nepal are being received during the various stages of implementation of the program. Similarly, supports from different organizations and media are very immense and hope that it will continue in the future as well.